Ritual Murder Agitation Stirs Populace in Bulgarian Village

Organized anti-Jewish violence against the Jewish population of the village of Haskovo, Bulgaria, on the ground of a ritual murder accusation, was prevented by the energetic intervention of the government authorities.

A Christian woman complained to the police that while passing in the street a Jewish woman pushed a lump of chocolate into her mouth, intending to choke her. The Jewish woman disappeared. At the screams of the Christian woman a large crowd gathered and the rumor spread immediately that “the Jews intended to kill the woman for ritual purposes.”

Despite the explanations of the police officials, which was made after an investigation, that the story was ridiculous, the angry crowd assumed a threatening attitude. The energetic intervention of the police averted what might have been a pogrom.

Col. Tadjer, president of the Jewish Consistory in Bulgaria, when interviewed by the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency stated he was satisfied that the immediate energetic measures taken by Chief of Police Prestavski, prevented riots.